Separator structure for beer cases and the like



April 5, 1949. H. A. RINGEL I ,4

SEPARATOR STRUCTURE FOR BEER CASES AND THE LIKE Filed July 5, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

I ama (A? E 0 6] April 5, 1949.-

SEPARATOR STRUCTURE FOR BEER CA'SES AND THE LIKE Filed July 5, 1946 H. A. RINGEL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Apr. 5, 1949 iJNlTED STATES SEPARATOR STRUCTURE FOR BEER CASES AND THE LIKE is a, prime feature of the invention.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved separator structure in which the partition construction-as to its interlocking complemental features is so arranged as to permit die punching by the very easiest method.

. A further object of the invention is to produce .a separator structure in which the interlocking feature between the partitions is stronger and resists falling apart in handling.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an-improved separator structure so constructed and arranged as to prevent the bottles .irom sidewise movement or Wobbling and also .to prevent the partitions collapsing inwardly of the cells ina manner to prevent the ready entrance of the bottles to those cells.

With the foregoing and other objects in view .the invention will be more fully described hereinafter and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, in which like parts are denoted by the same reference characters throughout the several views,

Fig. l. is a perspective view with parts broken :away and parts shown in section of an improved separator structure in accordance with the present' invention;

Fig.2 is a side elevation of the separator structure in a collapsed condition apart .from the crate;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a representative .iorm of partition;

=Fig. 4 is a similar view of the complemental partition section;

Fig. 5 is also a perspective view showing the .firststep in the mode of assembly of the two partition sections;

Fig. 6 is also a perspective view showing the .two sections shoved home and in a collapsed position; and

'Fig. '7 is a perspective view showing the two partition sections interlocked and opened for use.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 10 designates a socket, M an incision-and l2 a slot which. are made in each of the partition .members l3 and- 14. These partition members 43 and. M intersect one another. at substantially to .the top point E of the slot I 2.

terms with such base .60 degrees.

.cordance with the capacity of the case [5.

right angles when in the extended position. of use shown in the crate l5 in Fig. 1 from which they areremovable. Such partitions l3 and I4 are preferably of cardboard and they constitute the. core or separator structure which maybe collapsed for transportation in the form indicated in Fig. .2.

The socket Hi, incision H and slot l2 maybe repeated in each partition at spaced intervals to register with the intersecting partition in which a like structure is produced in an inverted .manner.

Referring more particularlyto Figs. 3 to linclusive in which a single section ofeach partition l3. and it illustrates the construction. and method of assembly, Fig. 3 shows. the erect and Fig. 4 the .inverted relative positions of the two partition sections. it and M. In these figures the socket H3 is shown to be triangular as in- :dicated by the letters ABC. Thev incision CD connects thebase of the cutout triangle ABC The limit indentified by the letters H has its originat the CB of the triangle and an angle of the orderof Such. incision intersects the perpendicular line EH of slot l2 at the pointrE but continues to the point D on the slant line DB of the slot !2. The complemental formation of the triangular socket to, incision H and points pointsof'the slot are EDFH. The incision point C at the base ,EandD result in the formation of interlocking tongues BOD in the two partition sections l3 and 14.

In use, a cellular. separator structure may be built up of as many longitudinal and as many transverse partitions as desired. In the drawings which show only one embodiment ot-the invention five transverse and three longitudinal partitions are shown to illustrate the invention but any numberof. each may be employed in ac- The intersecting partitions may be arranged at 'desired distances from one another and the slot and socket construction will be produced in the partitions at such spaced points. The parti- --tions .may be identically ,formed so that they may be produced from the same die-punching operation. .Afterwards one set of partitions is inverted with respect to the other so thatthe transverse partitions 3, for instance,..may have the slots l2..disposed lowermost while the intersecting longitudinalpartitions M are arranged with the slots l2 opening upwardly.

To assemble. the partitions are introduced together as indicated at Fig. with the slots l2 interfitted together by vertical relative motion of the two partitions. The wide mouths HF of the slots I2 permit the easy interfitting of the slots of the two partitions together. As the partitions are moved together from the position of Fig. 5 to the final position of Fig. 6, the free edges of the tongues BCD will move through the incisions I l of the opposite partition sections and pass into the sockets w. The base lines CB of the partitions will then engage one another and interlock the two sections to prevent the same from being pulled vertically apart. However, the arrangement does not interfere with the horizontal hinging movement of the partitions about the tongues which permits the cellular structure as a whole to collapse and expand.

It will be noted that the construction ED provides a substantial horizontal width across the slots [2 at the upper inner crotch portions of the same as against the walls EHDF coming to a point or sharp angle. This arrangement better secures the interlocking pieces from coming apart when the separator is opened up to form the compartments because the tongue BCD which looks into the triangular socket H! is made longer by the distance ED. Also when the separator is flattened out for shipping purposes the interlocked pieces will not fall apart. When point C of part l3 meets point B of section M the lines BD on both sections l3, l4 rest against each other preventing the tongues from slipping out through the incisions ll since the pieces of the separator are interlocked together.

From Fig. 1 it will be apparent that the perpendicular lines EH of the slots l2 alternate on adjacent partition sections. The slant lines DF do not support the intersecting partitions at their upper portions. By having the alternating or staggering arrangement there is ample vertical wall support for the intersecting partitions to prevent the same from moving inwardly upon the cell space at the upper mouth portions of the cells where they receive the broad bottom ends of the beer bottles and therefore must be kept clear for the ready introduction of such beer bottles. The walls EH and DF are made flaring in the first instance for the purpose of facilitating the assembly of the partition sections together in that the wide open mouths HF of the slots I2 are more easily fitted together, Since the partitions of the separator are interlocked together with the perpendicular lines EH of the slots l2 alternated on adjacent partitions there will always be at least one triangle ABC on each partition where point C will meet point B when the separator is flattened out.

The invention will be found useful as a separator, partition, protector, insert, divider, crate, etc, made up with two or more pieces of material slotted and cut out as described so that they will interlock into each other to form compartments into which articles can be packed and kept separated from each other.

When the partitions that form the separator are interlocked and the separator opened to insert the articles to be packed, the base lines BC of the cut out triangles on the intersecting partitions cross each other at substantially right angles thus making it impossible for the partitions to fall apart.

When the partitions that form the separator are flattened together so that the separator can be shipped most economically the base lines BC of the out out triangles rest against each other at at least one slot on the intersecting partitions to prevent the partitions from falling apart.

All of the partitions that form the separator are out out with the same design enabling one set of dies to cut both longitudinal and transverse partitions.

The simplicity of the design of the slots, incisions and sockets and the relationship makes it possible to cut the partitions from material in roll form on an automatic feed punch press without complicated dies. The intersecting pieces can be cut with the same die setup and if the intersecting pieces difier in sizes only an adjusement of side guides need be made. Use of material in roll form of the exact size of the pieces to be cut eliminates any waste of material.

When interlocking the partitions together to form the compartments of the separator the intersecting parts can meet each other at the entrance to the slots at any angle and the tongues between the slots and the sockets on each piece will look into the triangular sockets of each other; whereas if the intersecting pieces are cut with difierent designs the tongue on one piece and the slot for the tongue to look into on the other piece, the intersecting pieces must meet each other at the slot entrance at right angles in order that the tongue on one piece will lock properly into the slot on the other piece.

It will be noted from the single embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, and more particularly in Figures 3 through 5 inclusive, that the sockets H! are isosceles triangles with base an les B and C which are equal and with the base lines C and B toward the tongues and toward the slots I 2.

It will moreover be apparent from these same figures that the slots 12 are right angle triangles with the short sides removed across FI-I, with the long arm EH in vertical alignment with the medians of the respective isosceles triangular socket H3. The hypotenuse side DF flares outwardly toward the open edge thus causing the slots 12 to form flaring mouths receivable upon one another in the act of inter-fitting the partitions together. In pushing the partitions home the tongues pass one another through the incisions ll so that the tongues BCD finally occupy the respective isosceles triangular sockets I0 and in a certain specified relationship, namely in coincidence with the medians of such isosceles triangular sockets Ill. This relative positioning of the sockets H1 and the tongues of companion partitions provides clearance at both sides of the tongues due to the isosceles form of the triangles it while the fact that an edge of the tongue fits up rather close into the apex A of the isosceles triangle and the other edge of the tongue fits crosswise upon the base of the isosceles triangle at a central portion of the base line BC enables the tongue to turn in either direction in the isosceles triangular slot without deformation of the tongue and with entire freedom of movement so much so that the companion partitions may fold down in either direction upon one another into substantially fiat parallel relationship thus conserving space for shipment and avoiding a condition of only partial folding blocked by the tongues in the sockets which would result in forcing and damage to the tongues when weight was put upon the folded cellular structure in the course of shipment.

Moreover this relative arrangement of the tongues in coincidence with the medians of the isosceles triangular sockets is maintained by the cooperation of the vertical long arms EH of the peculiarly shaped right angle triangular slots l2 which engage blank portions of the companion partition beyond the apexes A of the sockets l thus orienting the tongues in the sockets and maintaining the tongues in this intermediate position in the sockets for free rotary movement in either direction.

The fact that the apexes of the triangular slots 12 are truncated and that the hypotenuse Walls merge into the slant Walls DE which slant walls are prolongations of the diagonal incisions Ii facilitates the assembly and inter-fitting of the partitions inasmuch as these slant walls meet and slide upon one another and guide the tongues through the incisions I I into final position in the isosceles triangular sockets 10.

While I have disclosed herein the best form of the invention known to me at the present time, I desire it to be understood that I reserve the right to make changes and modifications in the hereindescribed embodiment of the invention provided such changes fall within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A separator structure for beer cases and the like comprising two companion inter-fitting partitions of resilient material each having a socket, a slot and a tongue lying between the inner end of said slot and said socket, said socket being an isosceles triangle with its base toward the tongue and its median substantially vertical, each partition having an incision all the way across one side of said tongue and connecting the area adjacent one base angle of said isosceles triangular socket with the inner end of said slot, said slot being substantially a right angle triangle having a short horizontal base arm opening through an edge of the partition, a long arm substantially vertical and in substantially vertical alignment with the median of the isosceles triangular socket and a hypotenuse side inclining from the open base toward the long arm, said companion partitions being adapted to be fitted together in relatively reversed positions with the two slots initially moved one upon the other and with the two tongues passing one another through said incisions and with the tongues finally occupying the respective isosceles triangular sockets of the companion partitions and with the blank portions of the partitions beyond the apexes of the sockets engaging the vertical long arms of the slots to maintain the tongues in coincidence with the medians of the isosceles triangular sockets to permit free relative folding of the partitions in either direction to substantially fiat parallel condition one upon the other.

2. A separator structure for beer cases and the like as claimed in claim 1 characterized by the fact that said companion partitions are multiplied to produce a cellular separator structure with the vertical-long arms of said slots being alternately reversed in subsequent partitions to extend alternately on opposite sides of an intersecting par- 6 tition whereby to maintain the intersecting partition in an upright vertical position with its tongues in substantially accurate coincidence with the medians of the included slots.

3. A separator structure for beer cases and the like as claimed in claim 1 characterized by the fact that the inner end of said right angle triangular slot has its apex truncated and in which a slant wall being substantially a prolongation of said incision connects the inner ends of the hypotenuse and long arms.

4. A separator structure for beer cases and the like comprising intersecting partitions possessing I resiliency, each having therein in relatively inverted relation an isosceles triangular socket, slots opening through the lower and upper edges respectively of the partitions, said slots being spacedly removed substantially vertically from said triangular sockets, incisions connecting said triangular sockets with said slots, the base of each triangular socket being presented toward the respective slot, said slots being substantially right triangles with their apexes towards the bases of the triangular sockets and With the long arms and hypotenuse arms forming flaring mouths to facilitate receiving the inverted flaring mouths of the associated partitions, said incisions passing from the inner ends of said slots to one of the base angles of said isosceles triangular sockets, and retaining tongues on the partitions in the area between said slots and sockets, the depth of said retaining tongues with reference to the medians of said isosceles triangular sockets being such that when the intersecting partitions are fitted together in inter- 40 locking engagement said tongues of each partition are received within the isosceles triangular sockets of the other partition and lie in the plane of the median thereof.

5. A separator structure for beer cases and the 45 like as claimed in claim 4 in which the depth of said retaining tongues is less than the heights of the medians of said isosceles triangular sockets. HAROLD A. RINGEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 00 1,307,621 Davidson June 24, 1919 

